STOCKTON - San Joaquin County has the lowest cigarette price - $3.77 a pack - among California's 58 counties, but the price for smoking costs the county more than $120 million annually.

Also, compared with the state average, San Joaquin County has more stores selling tobacco products flavored with candy, mint and liquor, generally marketed toward and proven to be more attractive to younger consumers.

These statistics come from a first-of-its-kind public health survey intended to inform Californians about the impacts of unhealthy product marketing in retail stores.

The survey findings were released Wednesday by San Joaquin County Public Health Services in conjunction with the statewide launch of the Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community campaign, a partnership of tobacco prevention, alcohol prevention and nutrition interests.

The survey included 120 stores in San Joaquin County that sell tobacco, liquor and food products. It found that 82 percent of those stores posted outside ads for unhealthy products compared with just 9 percent advertising healthy items such as milk, fruit or vegetables.

Despite having the cheapest price for cigarettes - more than 50 cents lower than the statewide average of $4.30 - the county has made major strides in its tobacco control efforts in recent years, according to William Mitchell, director of San Joaquin County Public Health Services.

"As the survey results show, the tobacco industry and other companies offering unhealthy items continue to find new products to entice our youth, like alcopops and flavored cigars, which are the same price as a pack of gum. They are being marketed throughout our county, often in stores just a few blocks from schools," Mitchell said in Wednesday's announcement.

"It is important to be aware of how the places we live and the resources that are available to us are influencing our health outcomes," he said. "In a community with limited resources, our staff and partners are committed to collaborating with retailers, community organizations and parents throughout the county to protect our youth and make our communities healthier."

County officials are well aware more effort needs to be directed toward reducing the effects of poor food choices and abuse of alcohol and tobacco products, such as obesity and chronic diseases, but they can't do the job alone.

"Through community outreach and education, Public Health Services staff from the tobacco and nutrition programs plan to work together to support retailers in providing healthier options in their stores," said Barb Alberson, the public health agency's senior deputy director of policy and planning. "Current activities include food demonstrations, nutrition education and youth engagement.

"By providing the necessary tools, information and support, minor modifications could be made to the retail environment, and Public Health Services staff, its partner organizations and local retailers have the potential to make a large impact on the health of San Joaquin County residents."

For more county, regional and state survey data, visit HealthyStoresHealthyCommunity.com.

Contact reporter Joe Goldeen at (209) 546-8278 or jgoldeen@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/goldeenblog and on Twitter @JoeGoldeen.